Pakistan: Landmine Casualties

Lord Walton of Detchant: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What financial support they have been able to offer to the Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Disabled (RCPD) in Peshawar, Pakistan, which since the beginning of 2001 has worked to provide rehabilitation and vocational training to landmine casualties; and whether they will increase their financial support.

Baroness Amos: We have no record of any request for financial assistance from DfID to the Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Disabled (RCPD) in Peshawar, Pakistan.

China: UNFPA

Lord Elton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by Baroness Amos on 16 July 2001 (HL Deb, col. 1341) that "the Government disagree with China's one child policy", whether they will now suspend funding of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities if it supports coercive enforcement of population control in China.

Baroness Amos: As we have made clear on many occasions, UK assistance for reproductive health programmes is provided in line with the principles of free and informed choice set out at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994 and reaffirmed at the Cairo plus 5 meeting in New York in 1999. This specifically rules out any kind of coercion in matters relating to childbearing and reproduction.
	The United Nations population fund's (UNFPA) programme in China is designed to demonstrate that people can be provided with modern services and make their own choices about family size without coercion. This is the focus and purpose of UNFPA's work in China. Bill:

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will compensate those farmers and other small businesses whose investment and support have been cut as a result of their policy of partially privatising the Commonwealth Development Corporation. [HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: CDC has sold some agricultural investments as ongoing businesses to other owners, well placed to develop these businesses further. These disposals have been done in a socially responsible manner.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In which countries the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) offices have been shut down since the CDC was partially privatised.

Baroness Amos: No part of CDC has been privatised. Since its transformation to a public limited company in 1999, CDC has closed offices in Peru, Trinidad, Jamaica, Uganda, Malawi, Bangladesh, Philippines and Fiji. CDC continues to manage existing investments and look for new investment opportunities in these countries from neighbouring regional offices.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the levels of private investment resulting from the partial sell-off of the Commonwealth Development Corporation have generated significant levels of private investment for Africa.

Baroness Amos: CDC was tranformed in 1999 into a public limited company which as yet remains wholly government-owned.

Financial Services Authority

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they expect to announce a change in the chairmanship of the FSA.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government are pleased to say that Sir Howard Davies has today agreed to an extension to his appointment as chairman and director of the FSA until 31 January 2004. At a time when the FSA has only just taken on its full regulatory powers and is establishing itself as a fully independent single regulator, it is invaluable to have Sir Howard remaining in post, with his breadth of experience.

Children Act Guidelines

Lord Grabiner: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the impact of the Children Act sub-committee Guidelines for Good Practice on parental contact in cases where there has been domestic violence.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Lord Chancellor's Department promulgated the guidelines during spring 2001. A survey was carried out in the late autumn 2001 on the use and effectiveness of the guidelines. This has shown that they have been broadly well received and have resulted in a generally heightened focus on domestic violence issues. However, there are indications that awareness of the guidelines is patchy and that more contact centres are needed. The department is taking steps to address these issues. Copies of the analysis of the survey, Bill:including the action to be taken, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Defence Logistics Organisation Expenditure

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the costings of defence equipment within the Defence Logistics Organisation have exceeded the amount provided by the Ministry of Defence budget; and, if so, by how much.

Lord Bach: We expect the expenditure of the Defence Logistics Organisation to be within the overall estimates provision at the year end.

Gulf War Veterans

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 25 February (WA 177) about the recent death of ex-Petty Officer Nigel Thompson, what is their response to The Royal British Legion's expression of disquiet that, while the United States Government accept the evidence of a comparative study that motor neurone disease is much higher among Gulf war veterans than in the population as a whole, the Ministry of Defence has still to do so.

Lord Bach: We do not currently have a scientific basis on which to judge whether the incidence of motor neurone disease is much higher among Gulf veterans than in the population as a whole. As noted in my previous Answer, the US Government's decision was based on preliminary evidence only and the underlying research has not yet been published. When it is, we will consider carefully the implications for UK Gulf veterans.

Kabul: Shooting Incident

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why two personnel from 2 Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, were returned to the United Kingdom for interview by the Royal Military Police after an exchange of fire in Kabul, as opposed to the Royal Military Police visiting Kabul.

Lord Bach: Two members of the Parachute Regiment were flown back to the UK following the shooting incident in Kabul on 16 February. This is standard practice following such an incident and was not done to allow the Royal Military Police to question the soldiers.

Army Divorce Rates

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many divorces have occurred in the last four years in the Royal Armoured Corps; the Royal Artillery; the Infantry; the Royal Engineers; the Royal Signals; the Royal Logistic Corps; and the Adjutant General's Corps.

Lord Bach: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Overall Army divorce figures for the last four years are shown below:
	
		
			 Year Army Divorce Figures Percentage 
			 1997–1998 1,125 2.16 
			 1998–1999 1,473 2.94 
			 1999–2000 1,528 3.05 
			 2000–2001 1,558 3.12

Strategy for the Army

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the speech of Lord Burlison on 13 February 2001 (HL Deb, col. 234) that "there is no intention further to restructure the Reserve Forces", whether any parts of the study known as Strategy for the Army (SFTA) cover the Territorial Army; if so, when the project was initiated; and what is its purpose.

Lord Bach: The Strategy for the Army was made available to defence spokespersons and placed in the Libraries of both Houses in March last year. The aim was to develop a strategy for the Army which would consider the likely strategic environment in which it might be required to operate during the next 12 years independently, as part of joint operations, or as part of an alliance or coalition. A programme of work is currently under way, taking forward the themes of the Strategy for the Army. This includes looking at ways of increasing the contribution the TA makes to our defence plans within its existing establishment.
	In parallel, work on a new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review, following the 11 September attacks, is exploring the role that the Armed Forces, including the reserves, have in defending and protecting the United Kingdom. Bill:

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 13 February (WA 153–54) concerning the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, what mechanisms of independent inspection exist for the police ombudsman's office.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: There is no mechanism for independent inspection of the police ombudsman's office.

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What criteria were used in the appointment of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman; and when the office will be reappointed.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The criteria used in the appointment of the police ombudsman were as detailed in the application form: legal skills; leadership/strategic planning; developing and maintaining networks; judgment and decision-making and public relations.
	The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland was appointed on 6 November 2000 and this appointment terminates on 5 November 2007.

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received representations from the Government of the Irish Republic supporting the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman; what was the nature of these representations; by whom were they made; and what was the response.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: No formal representations have been received from the Government of the Irish Republic supporting the police ombudsman.

Consumer Batteries: Disposal

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What risks are associated with the widespread practice of allowing torch and other small appliance batteries to be included in general landfill; and
	Why no effort is made to separate torch and other small appliance batteries from other waste and to encourage either recycling or safe disposal.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government take the view that the environmental impact caused by the disposal of consumer batteries is largely attenuated by their burial as a very small element of landfilled household waste. Most studies of household waste in the UK have found the level of consumer batteries in the household waste-stream to be less than 0.1 per cent. The levels of heavy metals classified as special or hazardous waste is very low in most consumer batteries. It is an EU requirement for the level of mercury contained in the type of batteries used in torches must not exceed 0.0005 per cent.
	The Government welcome the European Commission intention to propose a new EU directive aimed at promoting greater recycling of consumer batteries later this year, but an analysis of the likely environmental impact and costs of an early draft commissioned by my department demonstrates that the environmental costs of small batteries collection can sometimes outweigh the benefits of material reclamation. lynne

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Resignations

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what occasions Sir Richard Mottram held discussions with each Minister in the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which led him to the view that because of the breakdown in relationships with Ministers in the department, Martin Sixsmith and Jo Moore should resign.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I refer the noble Lord to the statement made by the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on Monday 25 February. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Resignations

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the internal investigation into the actions of civil servants in the press office of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has been conducted within the letter of the Ministerial and Civil Service Codes.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The investigation has been conducted by civil servants acting in accordance with the Civil Service Code.

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Resignations

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have to conclude that the situation in the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions was "a concerted attempt by a very small number of civil servants in the press office to undermine the department" (HL Deb, col. 1342).

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I refer the noble Lord to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions' statement that I repeated in this House on Tuesday 26 February 2002. lynne

Lancashire: Council Tax

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the reported statement by Councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member for finance on Lancashire County Council, at the county council meeting on 14 February, that the rise of 7.7 per cent in the Lancashire council tax for 2002–03 was caused by the "poor settlement figure from central Government"; if so, what was the reason for that figure.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is for local authorities to decide the level of their council tax taking into account the level of services they wish to provide, their statutory responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate. We have provided local government overall with significant increases in funding in 2002–03. General grant to local authorities will increase by 5 per cent or £1.9 billion. The increases in grant have enabled the Government to set a floor for councils with education and social service responsibilities which guarantees an increase in general grant of at least 4 per cent. Lancashire County Council benefits from the floor and will receive an increase in the coming financial year of £26.673 million.

National Air Traffic Services

Lord Mackie of Benshie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they intend to take after the failure of the National Air Traffic Services to provide control over a large area on the nights of 23 and 24 February 2002.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: A single sector covering the North Sea area had to be closed in the early hours of two weekend nights covering 23 and 24 February due to an exceptional shortage of suitably qualified air traffic services assistants. Only 14 aircraft were re-routed each night around the sector as a result and no delays were incurred.
	The Government are assured that National Air Traffic Services Limited is pursuing its training programme for air traffic services assistants at the Swanwick centre to ensure that there is no repetition of the sector closure experienced on 23 and 24 February 2002. lynne

Air Shows: Safety

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many air shows are licensed in England and Wales; and what safety precautions are laid down for such attractions.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: One hundred and sixty-two air shows were licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in England and Wales during 2001. Permission to hold an air display in the UK must be obtained from the CAA but will be granted only after the size of the proposed display and the suitability of the location has been assessed. The CAA publishes mandatory safety guidance for air display organisers covering all aspects of air display safety, including how close to the crowd aircraft may be displayed.

A570 Ormskirk/Southport Link

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to improve the A570 link between Ormskirk and Southport.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews, to write to the noble Lord.
	Letter from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews, dated 8 March 2002.
	The Minister of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Lord Falconer, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Highways Agency's plans to improve the A570 link between Ormskirk and Southport.
	As you may be aware, the Government's intention to transfer to Local Highway Authorities responsibility for around 40 per cent. of the then trunk road network (a process known as de-trunking) was announced in 'A new Deal for Trunk Roads in England' in July 1998. The aim was to get decisions on these roads taken at the level at which the relevant factors were best understood so that their management and improvement could be fully integrated with land use planning and local transport plans.
	The A570 was one of the roads identified for detrunking. Our intention is to transfer responsibility for it to the local highway authorities, Lancashire County Council and Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, in April 2003. The necessary De-trunking Orders have been published and we are meeting the local authorities to discuss their concerns about the proposals.
	In the run-up to de-trunking, we will be implementing a safety scheme to create a one-way gyratory system around the St Helens Road Park, signalise the junction and improve pedestrian facilities in the next financial year.
	If you would like any further information about this please contact the Agency's Route Manager for the A570, Ziad El-balbisi, at Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester M1 4BE (telephone 0161 930 5822). lynne

Local Authority Pension Funds

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much income local authority pension funds have lost through the abolition of dividend tax credits on their holdings of ordinary and preference shares in each of the financial years 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The information requested is not collected centrally. Only the individual local authorities responsible for the management and investment of pension funds within the framework of the Local Government Pension Scheme could provide the figures.

Building Regulations

Lord Vinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the new building regulations L1 and L2 on the conservation of fuel and power coming into effect on 1 April 2002 and comprising 131 papers of instructions and requiring cross-reference to over 90 supporting statutory publications were submitted to the Better Regulation Unit for scrutiny.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: A draft regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was produced to cover the proposals for amendments to Part L that are embodied in the new regulations and in the approved documents that give non-mandatory guidance on how the technical requirements of the regulations may be met. The draft RIA was included in the consultation document published in June 2000. It was amended in the light of responses to the consultation, and both the draft and the final versions of the RIA were scrutinised by the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit (CORIU), formerly known as the Better Regulation Unit. Bill:

A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have ensured that the Highways Agency, in inviting tenders for the A303 Stonehenge (Amesbury to Berwick Down) improvement scheme, will specify proposals for the long bored tunnel (as advised by ICOMOS-UK) as well as for short cut-and-cover and short bored tunnel options.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: In line with the scheme announced in A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England, the tenders invited for the A303 Stonehenge scheme require proposals for illustrative designs for either a 2km cut-and-cover or a 2 bored tunnel.
	The International Council on Monuments and Sites—UK has asked for a comparison to be made between our proposal and a 4km long bored tunnel. This has been discussed with the council and the comparison will be covered in the environmental statement.

A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have secured funding for the long bored tunnel for the A303 at Stonehenge.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government's proposal is for a 2km length of cut-and-cover tunnel as announced in 1998 in A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England. Funding for the scheme is planned on that basis.

A406 Trunk Road: Litter Clearing

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which company has the contract for litter clearing on the A406 trunk road linking the M11 to the A13; when the road was last cleaned up; whether the present cleanliness of this road is satisfactory; and, if not, what they propose to do about it.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The A406 forms part of the Transport for London Road Network. Contracts relating to it are a matter for the mayor and Transport for London.

Windmills and Windfarms

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether windmills and windfarms will not be approved against the wishes of the relevant local communities and local planning authorities.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: National planning policy with regard to windfarms is set out in PPG 22 (renewable energy), which provides planning authorities with guidance on a range of issues that affect the siting of wind turbines and other renewable energy developments. We are currently reviewing the guidance and will consult widely on the revised draft.
	The Secretary of State's general approach is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities unless it is necessary to do so. Parliament has entrusted them with responsibility for day-to-day planning control in their areas. Local planning authorities are normally best placed to make decisions relating to their areas and it is right that, in general, they should be free to carry out their duties responsibly, with the minimum of interference. There will be occasions, however, when the Secretary of State may consider it necessary to call in a planning application to determine himself instead of leaving it to the local planning authority. His policy is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. He will in general take this step only if planning issues of more than local importance are involved and if those issues need to be decided by the Secretary of State rather than at a local level. Each case is, however, considered on its own facts. Barry

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Consultants

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidelines govern the employment of consultants in the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The department has internal guidelines for the employment of consultants. The guidelines cover among other things the principle of obtaining value for money, the selection of consultants and the preparation of business cases. Cross-governmental guidance is also followed as necessary.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether consultations took place with the clay pigeon shooting organisations prior to the publication of the consultation on possible changes to the use classes order and temporary uses provisions; and which bodies were consulted.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The department held no consultations with clay pigeon shooting organisations before publication of the consultation paper on 24 January 2002.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, following the publication of the consultation on possible changes to the use classes order and temporary uses provisions, they intend to consult all interested parties, including all the shooting organisations and landowners where such activities might take place; and what are the names of those to be approached.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The consultation paper on possible changes to the use classes order and temporary use provisions was published on 24 January 2002. The issue of clay pigeon shooting is addressed in the temporary uses part of the consultation paper. In respect of the temporary use provisions, the paper puts forward six options for possible change as well as inviting proposals for alternative options.
	We would welcome views on the consultation paper from all interested parties, including shooting organisations and landowners. The consultation period expires on 24 April 2002. The department will then consider the views of all those who have responded before making any decisions on the future composition of the use classes order and temporary use provisions. Janice

Road Congestion Charging

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will seek to exempt ministerial cars from road congestion charges imposed by the Greater London Authority.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No.

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they circulated the foot and mouth disease contingency plans for Great Britain to all the national and local disease control centres as soon as the plans were updated and published; and what checks were made to ensure they had been put into effect.

Lord Whitty: The foot and mouth disease contingency plan was not circulated to animal health offices when it was updated in July 2000 because the changes were comparatively minor ones, for example, names and addresses, which had been circulated to staff already. The State Veterinary Service receives its instructions on foot and mouth procedures through detailed operational procedures. These are available online through the department's intranet facility and includes a section on contingency planning. In addition to this, each animal health office is required to maintain up-to-date, local contingency plans dealing with foot and mouth disease and other notifiable diseases (e.g. classical swine fever, rabies etc). These plans are reviewed on a regular basis.

Disabled People: Protection of Rights

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What developments there have been internationally since the representation to the Prime Minister on 5th July 2000 of Rehabilitation International's Charter for the Third Millennium, particularly with regard to the charter's call for a United Nations convention on the rights of disabled people and related developments.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: In November 2001, a UN General Assembly Resolution established an ad-hoc committee to consider proposals for an international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. The committee is expected to meet later this year and will take account of the recommendations of the UN Commission for Social Development, the UN Commission of Human Rights and the recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability.
	In addition, the Irish resolution at the commission on Human Rights (CHR) in 2000 has led to a study on the adequacy of existing international standards to protect the rights of disabled people. The report is due soon.

Civil Service

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their definition of the word "resignation" in the public service.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Civil Service Management Code sets out the terms and conditions of civil servants, including resignation from the Civil Service.

Civil Service

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will set up a Royal Commission to consider the independence of the Civil Service from political interference; and, if not, why not.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: We are already committed to maintaining the political impartiality of the Civil Service and to introducing legislation for the Civil Service. We are also committed to wide consultation in advance of the legislation. Janice

Strategic Communications Unit: Cost

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the cost of running the Strategic Communications Unit for each of the years 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01; and what is its estimated cost for the current financial year.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Costs for running the unit in each of the years were as follows: 2000–01 £957, 302 1999–2000 £838, 421 1998–99 £716, 672
	A large proportion of these costs are attributable to the continuing development and support of the No 10 Downing Street website, which is one of the most frequently visited government websites in the UK, receiving over 4 million hits a week.

Better Regulation Task Force

Lord Grabiner: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to appoint a successor to Lord Haskins as Chair of the Better Regulation Task Force.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: I have appointed David Arculus, non-executive Chairman of Severn Trent plc, as the new Chair of the Better Regulation Task Force. His appointment takes effect on 1 April 2002 and will be for a period of three years. The position is unpaid and will take up one-and-a-half days per week.
	The Government would like to put on record their gratitude to my noble friend Lord Haskins for chairing the task force since its inception four-and-a-half years ago and building it into what it is today. He and the task force have achieved a great deal. We and the country owe them a debt of gratitude for their hard work and commitment to the cause of better regulation.

Wales Office: Expenditure

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide a breakdown of the increase in Wales Office Annually Managed Expenditure Cash Plans (contained in Cm 5121, page 37) from the outturn of £7,032,736 in 1998–99 to the estimated £8,059,563 in 2000–01

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The increase between the two years primarily reflects the outcome of the comprehensive spending review announced in July 1998.
	For 1998–99, the Welsh Office Departmental Report for 1999 (Cm 4216) gives a breakdown of forecast outturn spending, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
	Of the total managed expenditure for 2000–01, some £3.4 million was retained by the Wales Office to meet its costs and the remainder passed to the National Assembly for Wales for its use.